2013 / 2014 TRD Owners Concerns

I have a 2014 TRD Off Road. Have it 2 months now. Got rid of a 2007 and while there are some things that are different, I'm glad I made the move. So is my father-in-law. My results are below.


Driveline Vibs / Axle Wrap: Nope
Front Diff Vibs: Nope
Engine Pinging: Nope
Steering Wheel Shaking: Nope
Clutch Slipping: N/A
Clutch Pedal Squeaking: N/A
Heater Motor Ticking: Nope
Whistling noise on Front End: Nope
Cabin Rattles / Poor Construction: Nope
Frame Rusting: Nope
Radio Coming On and Going Off by itself: Nope
__________________

 

Haha. Excellent post. Yes, it true. I am the King of paralysis-by-analysis. But I gotta tell ya - that's saved me from making some decisions I would have later on regretted, be it in my personal or professional life.

I too have wondered about the severity of the issues mentioned in some of these thread. At the same time, when you read an entire 26 page thread on driveline vibrations and axle wrap you pretty much realize this is a very common issue even though a lot are lucky enough to escape it.

As far as the "Fuck yeah, my Taco is the best truck ever" thread - I read them everyday. I read a thread yesterday where a guy was bragging about how his cabin temp in his Taco is always comfortable - he even said when its 20 degrees overnight he gets in his Taco in the morning and it feels great! No need to run the heater on the way to work cause his Taco is the best truck ever! You wouldn't believe the shit I read on this forum.

I do agree we are a squeaky wheel society and your statement regarding plenty of happy Taco owners is justified in the many posts below yours. I'm glad you are having a great experience with your Taco and I hope it continues!

I'm taking your advice on the skewp. The skewp that has my attention is a 4runner Trail Premium. . .



Thanks for posting .jake, your input is welcomed and valued. That goes for the rest of you filthy animals too!

 

The best way to love your Tacoma is to never go to a forum. There can be issues that you don't even notice until you see it in a forum then you start looking for every problem you see someone else had. Just read the positive threads and you will like your truck a whole lot more. If you have a problem just look at the thread related to that problem and you may not notice the other faults.
Someone on here started comparing Tacoma's to Frontier's so I had to check it out. So now I am driving a Frontier until the Tacoma gets a redesign. Someone else on here traded for a Ridgeline and will drive it until a Tacoma redesign. If the redesign still has the shudder and vibrations I will stay with the Frontier and I bet the Ridgeline guy will keep his until those issues are resolved.
The Tacoma is a great truck but it is not the only one out there.

 

I bought a 2013 DCLB TRD sport and it runs great however off the lot I noticed the whistling at 35-70 mph. Thankfully this forum had the answer. I fixed it by running plastic pipe thru the weather stripping to stiffin in it up and no more whistle. I was kind of annoyed with my local Toyota dealership as they couldn't figure it out on their first lookover of the truck when I took it in for maintenance and complained about it but a 4 dollar fix that took 5 minutes wasn't that bad at all. Just my .02.

 

I agree. I'm also waiting for the next Generation Taco, whenever that will happen: 2015? 2016? 2017?

I'm truly disappointed in Toyota's failure to fix/address the numerous problems & issues that have plagued the 2nd gen Taco. It's almost as if Toyota feels that if they stick their head(s) in the sand and just ignore everything, that somehow it will all go away. This has been going on for 10 years now. Bad strategy.

Also, we can expect to see new generation/re-designed trucks from Nissan & Honda in the next few years too. Worth waiting to see what's coming.

 

In my earlier post (above), I outlined three issues I had with my 2005 (that others also had)... and happily reported that all were resolved with my 2010.

 

Traded a 2004 for a 2014 late in 2013.

I had read about a lot of the issues before getting the new one, and test drove both an Access cab and the DC they did a dealer swap to get me.

There is a little bit of brake squeal/hydraulic priming/pumping that i don't particularly care for, and the shifting is the clunkiest of any stick I've ever driven, but I still enjoy the truck, and I enjoy driving the manual more than "pointing" my old auto (can't remember who said that).

Driven about 3000 miles now, and the only issue I've had was my Dad not fully depressing the clutch when he killed it at a stoplight. He thought he was fully depressing it, but it fired up when I told him to just kill the clutch check for startup. Also, my BT pairing with my Android stopped working for a few hours during my return holiday drive from visiting with the folks.

I also need to read the manual and figure out what all the **** buttons do, I suppose.

Apart from that, I like the truck a lot. My '04 I believe had slightly more bed space, and it "felt" a little more solid and well-built, but that may just be my preference for not having to poke my fat finger all over a plastic screen set in a plastic-y cab to get a **** country or oldies rock station to play.

 

I've got a 2013, and have only ONE of those items listed in the 1st post apply to me: clutch slip.

....BUT that's because I'm running the TRD s/c with the URD 2.85 pulley and other mods on top of that. I was asking A LOT from the factory clutch, and I knew that.

Since then, it's been replaced with a URD Stage II clutch and I've never looked back.

Aside from that(which was something under MY control), I have no problems to report.

It should be noted that this is my 3rd Toyota pickup coming from a 1994 pickup, and a 1995.5 Tacoma(aka rattle boxes with age)---so anything that has to do with SOUND annoyances "my ears" probably won't find annoying much less notice, which could very well drive a new owner insane. Food for thought.

 

2014 with 900 miles on. Only issue is the trailer hitch is rusting already. It has been in two snow storms. And on salty roads for the last couple months. I have washed it every week since new. I have been under the truck with a garden hose flushing salt off a couple of times. The rust on the trailer hitch is coming through from between the inner and outer box steel for the receiver. Its not a big deal, just annoying on a brand new truck. My wife has a 2009 Honda van with a trailer hitch and that took a couple of years before rust started.

 

Driveline Vibs / Axle Wrap - None for me / axle wrap could be an issue on any vehicle in the right circumstances.
Front Dif Vibs - None experienced.
Engine Pinging - None experienced
Steering Wheel Shaking - none
Clutch Slipping - N/A for me
Clutch Pedal Squeaking - N/A for me
Heater Motor Ticking - None
Whistling noise on Front End - none
Cabin Rattles / Poor Construction - Have not noticed anything yet
Frame Rusting - Too soon to know, but shouldn't be a problem for my location
Radio Coming On and Going Off by itself - Can't say I've had that at all. I have noticed trying to skip to the next song right after start up, it won't respond and may not until next off/re-start. Just make sure the radio is up and displaying all info before you try switching songs etc. Never have had it go off or come on when it's not supposed to.

 

2014 Sport 6 speed

Blower motor squeels

 

2013 DCSB TRD Sport no issues so far

 

TRD O/R MT.
None of the above issues for me. A few things I wish Toyota would have done like heated seats, a lighted 4x4 switch, etc... otherwise I LOVE this truck. I have a 2010 Camaro that I've beefed up (camaro5.com) and this truck is becoming my favorite the more I drive it. It's a GREAT truck and the best truck in its class.

 

2012 sport no problems , then again I'am not looking for any that are not there.

 

I hope I answered your questions above (in red). I have no regrets, outside of my winter wheel choice, from a cosmetic standpoint. It's a very nice driving truck and I have zero real complaints, outside of being a 5AT about 20% of the time.

 

2013 TRD OR auto DC SB 4wd - 17k
(previously owned of 2006 SR5 DC 4WD)
Both trucks bought new

2013 ~
Driveline Vibs / Axle Wrap: occasionally at taking off or merging on highway
usually under load smashing the pedal down.
Front Dif Vibs: NO
Engine Pinging: NO
Steering Wheel Shaking: Nope
Clutch Slipping: N/A
Clutch Pedal Squeaking: N/A
Heater Motor Ticking: Nope
Whistling noise on Front End: Yes did the tube mod on grill
Cabin Rattles / Poor Construction: Nope
Frame Rusting: No treated frame & touch up with fluid film
Radio Coming On and Going Off by itself: No

No real problems I have used it for my landscaping business, towing trailers, 4x4 a lot.
The defrost works like crap (my 06 did too) & wish heated mirrors were offered from factory.

 

I have a 2014 DCSB TRD OR auto with 2000 miles on it and have only had issues with a mild steering clunk that the zip tie fix cured and a cruise control that likes to shift down on small hills on the interstate. All other problems have been with my accessories. See my full build here:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/new-members/308438-new-colorado-tacoma-owner.html

Also, attached is a quick reference card I made for the confusing set of traction options that have come with my truck. Use it if you wish.

I am hoping that no other problems befall my machine!

 

i've got a 2010 T4R and I steal it from the wife all the time. love that thing.

 

2014 DCLB Sport
<10k
Bone Stock right now.
I have a small vibe at 40MPH and again at 60MPH.
I am not sure where the source is.
P265/65/r17 Bridgestone Dueler H/T.
That's all I'm dealing with now. No other problems/complaints, other than it NEEDS to be lifted.
I drove my 2008 DCLB for 230K and loved that truck. The only problem I had was the LSD. Toyota replaced it after 30K because clutches were grabbing.(after a lot of heavy bitching!)
The same problem started with the new unit. I solved the problem by adding MOPAR LSD additive to LSD gear oil, basically making the oil more slippery.
The Royal Purple LSD gear oil was not enough. The inside tyre was still grabbing.


I don't care for this VSC/Auto LSD crap and would prefer an ARB.
But my serious off road days and behind me and I just need a good 4X4 to get me in and OUT of my fishing and hunting spots.
So take the bad with the good.
I like they way my Sport rides, more lick a truck and not a car.
I had the Bilstein Toytec lift in my 2008, and it road like a brick shithouse. It needed dome more weight up font like a nice bumper.
Although, I was passing people with my foot in it over frost heave covered roads to be the first one to the mountain.
While I was waiting for my 2014, I rented a Nissan Frontier and a Silverado, and I was very very happy to be back in Tacoma cockpit.

 

As soon as I got my 2014 home, I hosed the entire underneath with a corrosion guard spray.
http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|10918|2303326|2303327&id=201318